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‘So Underrated’ Twitter Full Of Praise For Liverpool Star After Performance vs. Leeds

Oli Price-Bates November 29, 2016

Liverpool qualified for the semi-finals of the League Cup with a hard fought 2-0 win over Leeds on Tuesday night. Jurgen Klopp opted to name a much changed side but a weakened Liverpool team was still enough to break down Gary Monk’s resilient Leeds side.

With the likes of Roberto Firmino rested from the squad, there was an oppurutnity for several fringe players to take central stage and impress. One player who really did that was forward Divock Origi. The young Belgian has struggled for game time under Klopp, partly due to injuries and partly due to having the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Firmino ahead of him. But the 21-year-old’s recent form may see him move further up the rank at the club.

Origi made the breakthrough against Sunderland at the weekend in the Premier League after coming off the bench, and he did it once again against Leeds when it was looking like the game would go to extra time. Origi was rewarded with a start against Leeds and worked hard all game before scoring Liverpool’s 1st goal in the second half.

He has received plenty of praise for his hard working attitude and also his quality dribbling skills on display on Tuesday night. Origi is a well-rounded striker and he showed that tonight, completing 87% of his passes, a very good amount for a forward. He won 1 aerial duel, had 1 shot (which went in) and made 1 key pass. Impressively Origi completed 4 dribbles and was dispossessed just once. It is these dribbling attributes that make him a useful asset on the wing as well as through the middle. He also completed 2 crosses and his attempted 2 long balls both found their target.

Here’s some of the reaction from the fans on Twitter. Is he a better option than Sturridge at this moment in time? That’s what the talk of the town is…

In my opinion, Origi deserves to play more often for Liverpool. He’s more suited to Klopp’s style of play than Sturridge and considering he is 6 years younger, I think the Belgian is certainly the player that has the bigger future under Klopp and at Liverpool. I think that Liverpool and Sturridge should and probably will part ways in the coming months, if not in January then in the following summer. If this happens then it will pave the way for Origi to play more regularly. He’s a young lad at just 21, but he has impressed for club and country already, notching up more than 20 caps for a quality Belgium side. I think he has a big future at the club and under Klopp especially, they look a good match.

Has Origi earned a start in the Premier League at the weekend?

‘Shouldn’t Be Near The Starting 11’ Everton Fans & Koeman Critical Of Midfielder After Southampton Performance

Chris Baker November 28, 2016

Everton remain 7th in the league table after defeat to Southampton at the St Mary’s stadium on Sunday afternoon. A goal from Charlie Austin in the first minute was enough to ensure the points stayed with the Saints as Ronald Koeman’s return didn’t go to plan for the former Southampton boss.

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We take a look at the numbers behind the Toffees midfielder Ross Barkley, who was left frustrated after a tough afternoon where he had little influence on the game and was often dealt with at ease by the Saints defenders.

However harsh criticism has been on the England prospect in many years, it is due to the fact he has bags of potential but is failing to fulfil this on a consistent basis.

Although he didn’t perform to the standard the Everton faithful want him to do week in week out he did have a high passing accuracy yesterday afternoon finishing the game with 87% passing accuracy, one of the only things he can take dignity from.

Barkley, who predominantly plays in the number 10 role played there again yesterday and should have been at the heart of everything going forward and creating chances for his teammates, of course playing that role is not just about creating though, the 22-year-old wasn’t able to test the Saints keeper enough having just one shot whilst only completing one cross too, considering they have Romelu Lukaku in their side playing the nine role, you would think Barkley would look to get the ball in the box a lot more often than he did.

Barkley’s work rate off the ball was rather poor throughout the game too, he didn’t manage to make one tackle whilst making two fouls and clearly didn’t work for his team as much the boss wanted him to as he was deservedly subbed off after 70 minutes for Kevin Mirallas who took his place.

Everton boss, Ronald Koeman who was seething after the game deemed Ross Barkley “not good enough” after another lacklustre performance. We take a look at twitter to see how others reacted to his performance.

As you can see, the Merseyside born midfielder has come under some strong criticism following his recent display with fans seemingly giving up on their prized asset. European football must be the goal for Everton this season but they will certainly need their number 10 to pick up some good form if they are to accomplish this. But, if things go from bad to worse for the England midfielder then Koeman, who is clearly frustrated with his current performances may look to cut ties with him next summer, something Everton fans once dreaded.

Fans Call For This Defender To ‘Never Play For Manchester United Again’ After West Ham Draw

Oli Price-Bates November 27, 2016

Manchester United hosted West Ham on Sunday afternoon in a game they had to really win to keep pace with their title rivals after Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all ground out wins at the weekend.

It wasn’t the case though and it started so terribly for the home side when Sakho headed in from a Payet cross just 90 seconds into the game. United did equalise from a Ibrahimovic header but there were no more goals in what proved to be United’s fourth consecutive draw at home in the league. One player who stood out for Man Utd on the day was defender Matteo Darmian - but not for playing well.

Darmian was widely praised in his debut season for Manchester United but since then he has really struggled in the Premier League. The fans were not happy at all with his performance on Sunday and it seems the defender has lost his way, with some fans even calling for him not to play for the club again.

West Ham winger Antonio had the beating of Darmian all night. The English midfielder excelled over the Italian both defensively and offensively and the United mans crossing was a cause for particular frustration from the United faithful. Here’s some statistics to back up these thoughts: Darmian was pretty ineffective defensively, making 0 interceptions, 0 blocks and just 3 tackles. Going forward he wasn’t much better, completing 0 dribbles, making 0 key passes, 0 through balls and 0 accurate crosses. Those statistics make for pretty grim reading for the defender and this was certainly not a case of where statistics didn’t tell the whole story because they told the exact story - Darmian was completely useless on the day.

Why is he starting ahead of Luke Shaw after a series of poor performances? This is just one of an artillery of questions that the United fans are now asking. Here’s how the fans reacted on Twitter to his performance.

Manchester United now sit a massive 11 points behind league leaders Chelsea, and with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and even Arsenal also hitting form lately, it may not be unreasonable to already write Mourinho’s men off in the title race. Just 13 games in that is a pretty horrific performance from Mourinho and United. Something needs to change quickly and whilst I don’t for one second place all the blame on Darmian, he certainly appears to be one of a number of problems currently at the club.

‘He Needs To Start Every Week’ Arsenal Fans Impressed With Midfielder In 3-1 Win vs. Bournemouth

Oli Price-Bates November 27, 2016

Arsenal had to respond on Sunday after a couple of back to back draws in the Premier League had seen them slip slightly away from the leading pack in the Premier League.

The Gunners are still unbeaten in all competitions since the opening day of the season, though they were 6 points behind leaders Chelsea before hosting Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal managed to close that gap to just 3 points following a 3-1 win. Arsene Wenger opted for some tactical changes after poor midfield performances in recent weeks. With Granit Xhaka and Mohammed Elneny at the base of the midfield and Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott back on the wings - Alexis also started the game up front. Arsenal played well for the most part, particularly in the 2nd half. The Arsenal fans had been calling for new summer signing Granit Xhaka to play more regularly and today’s performance shows why they are so keen to see more of their new central midfielder.

In Santi Cazorla’s absence, Arsenal have lacked a playmaker in deep areas, someone who is assured on the ball and can pass both long and short. Xhaka is this kind of playing and whilst he is not as technically gifted as Santi, he does have a stronger and taller frame, giving him obvious advantages in central duels.

Xhaka’s statistics on the day help back up my point. He completed a very impressive 90.4% of his passes on the day and had 76 touches during the 90 minutes, more than any other Arsenal player on the pitch. Defensively he was sound, making a huge 9 tackles, winning 1 aerial duel and making 3 interceptions. He showed his quality with a long ball too, attempting 4 and reaching his target twice. One that sticks in my mind was a brilliant long ball over the top for Giroud, although the Frenchman’s control saw the chance end.

Xhaka’s 52 passes were more than any other Arsenal player and this shows how he is becoming more settled in the team and more relied upon amongst his teammates. He is the conductor and in Cazorla’s absence it is very important that Arsenal have a player of this ilk in the centre of the park.

Here’s what the fans are saying about the Swiss international’s performance on Sunday.

In my opinion I would agree with the general consensus on Twitter that Xhaka is an important part of the starting XI and he should certainly start in the absence of Santi Cazorla. Even when Cazorla is out I think Xhaka is the best all round central midfielder that we have at the club and his physical attributes make him an important part of the line-up.

‘He’s On Fire’ Chelsea Fans Delighted With This Man Following Spurs Win

Fresh Football November 26, 2016

Chelsea ended Spurs’ unbeaten run with a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge to go to the summit of the Premier League, courtesy of goals from Pedro and Victor Moses.

Spurs started the much better of the two, and had the ball in the back of the net just five minutes in, Harry Kane reacting quickest to smash home a loose ball in the box. However, it was ruled out for offside.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were rewarded for their fast, strong start when they went ahead after eleven minutes. Dele Alli made a menacing run before laying the ball off to Christian Eriksen, who lashed a terrific left-footed effort into the back of the net.

Spurs continued to dominate, but they were to go into the break level when Pedro produced a bit of magic to fire Chelsea back on level terms. The Spaniard picked up the ball on the edge of the box, before curling a delightful effort into the corner.

Chelsea took the lead soon after the break, Diego Costa doing well to break into the box down the left hand side before pulling the ball back for Victor Moses, who saw his shot deflected twice before bulging the net. The win sees Chelsea continue their excellent form and fire them to the top of the Premier League.

One player that constantly caused Spurs problems all evening was Victor Moses. The Nigerian international has found a new level under the management of Antonio Conte, and continued his terrific form here. He constantly looked to stretch the Spurs defence, and did so successfully, working tirelessly in a great performance.

3 interceptions and 5 crosses were just two of the standout statistics from Moses’ game.

Moses has been a key figure alongside Eden Hazard and Diego Costa in the Chelsea team in recent weeks, and here is how fans reacted to his display against Tottenham.

‘He’s A Blessing’ Chelsea Star Dubbed As Best In The World After Great Performance vs. Tottenham

Chris Baker November 26, 2016

Chelsea retained top spot after a well fought battle at Stamford Bridge against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Christian Eriksen gave the away side the lead after a thunderbolt strike but goals from Pedro and Victor Moses saw the three points remain with Antonio Conte’s men as they extend their run to seven consecutive league wins.

We take a look at the numbers behind the Blues top performer, Diego Costa, after another majestic performance saw the Spanish international grab an assist whilst giving Spurs defence something to worry about every time he was on the ball.

The 26-year-old was influential for the Blues, his assist for the winning goal was excellent - the way he drived past Dembele / Wimmer was so impressive, he glided past with ease showcasing a bit of neat footwork before driving the ball into the on running Moses’s path.

Although Costa did not get on the score sheet like he has so many times this season, he was showing why he is more than just a goal scorer with two key passes, one leading to the winning goal. What is most impressive about Costa’s game, which other strikers shy away from, is when the going gets tough, he gets tough. The Spanish international does not mind getting back for his side and doing the defensive work, with the Chelsea striker managing four clearances against Tottenham Hotspur.

The striker is working very hard for his teammates if things aren’t going their way, he will chase down any long ball which can relieve pressure on his side, this is the attitude Conte has managed to bring out of him after a below par season last term.

In another excellent display, Costa had 44 touches, making 25 passes finishing with a 72% pass accuracy. The Chelsea man helped his side take maximum points which see them sit top for another week, after another quality display we take a look at how Twitter reacted to Costa’s performance.

As you can see, Costa’s performance did not go unnoticed and rightly so, he was excellent once again and proved why he is arguably the best number nine on the planet at this current time in his deadly form. If he is not scoring, he is creating goals, if he is not creating, he is working tirelessly. A truly brilliant player who could fire his side to Premier League glory once again if Antonio Conte’s men were to keep up this supreme form.

‘His Influence Is Massive’ Twitter Praises Arsenal Midfielder For Quality Performance vs. PSG

Oli Price-Bates November 23, 2016

Arsenal were in Champions League action on Wednesday night as they looked to guarantee a top place finish in their group.

It wasn’t the case, but it was an entertaining game. The night got off to a very poor start when Edinson Cavani converted Matuidi’s cross just 18 minutes in. But the home sides fortunes quickly changed. A penalty on the stroke of half time and then an own goal after 59 minutes saw Arsenal flip the game on its head to take a lead. However a mistake from Iwobi and Jenkinson allowed Lucas to head in a late equaliser for the away side, meaning that PSG are all but certain to win the group.

Arsenal were far from their best on Wednesday night but one player who really caught the eye on the night was Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman is like Marmite to Arsenal fans but few can deny that he had a great game playing in his favoured central role.

Starting the game alongside Francis Coquelin, the fit again midfielder excelled playing in a deeper role, making tackle after tackle and proving to be much neater in possession than he has been of late.

Ramsey impressed defensively with 6 tackles and 2 interceptions, more than any other Arsenal player in both departments. His passes was neat with 87% successful, though he would’ve hoped to make more chances with his passes, with no key passes completed in the 90. He did manage to complete 3 dribbles, moving the ball between the lines with some good movement. More than anything Ramsey used his energy to get up and down the pitch all throughout the night. He made 68 passes which was more than any other Arsenal player and this just helps highlight his energy and how much he looks to get involved.

Here’s some of the reaction to his performance on Twitter. 90% of the reaction was positive.

Arsene Wenger now needs to find his best midfield partnership. I would like to see how a midfield of Xhaka and Ramsey would do. I think the players complement each other and with Santi Cazorla out, that duo would, in my opinion, form the best possible midfield partnership we can get. Coquelin and Elneny are good squad players, but not better than Ramsey and Xhaka in central midfield. I think that that pairing at least deserve a chance to play alongside eachother. Ramsey has the box-to-box energy and ability, whilst Xhaka is a dictator on the ball and would provide a calming presence alongside the erratic Ramsey.

‘Another Woeful Performance’ Tottenham Midfielder Gets Heavy Criticism In Champions League Exit

Oli Price-Bates November 22, 2016

Tuesday night will be an evening to forget for the entire Tottenham squad. They crashed out of the Champions League after a tepid display in Monaco that saw them lose 2-1 and in truth, that scoreline flattered the visitors.

Nobody was at the races for Spurs but one of the most disappointing players on the night was midfielder Dele Alli. The 20-year-old seriously struggled in midfield against a much more mature Monaco side on the night. The only two things of note that Alli did were get brought down for the penalty, and miss a decent chance at the end of the game - but apart from that he really struggled to be influential in midfield and looked out of his depth in a high-pressure Champions League game.

Alli was dispossessed 5 times during the game, a lot more than you’d expect from a midfielder of his quality. He also had 3 unsuccessful touches and only 69 successful, despite the English teams domination of the ball throughout the game. His pass accuracy was a respectable 84.4%, but he crucially didn’t do too much with the ball going forward. Alli only made 2 key passes and attempted 2 through balls - although both of these did find their desired target.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Alli and Tottenham’s dismal performance on Tuesday night.

Tottenham will now concentrate on ensuring they qualify for the Europa League by finishing in third position. Although this will not have been the aim for the club, if they were to go far or even win that competition it would be a big achievement for the club. The players won’t get close to winning even the Europa League though if they perform as they have done tonight.

In Alli’s case, we must not forget that he was playing lower league football just 12 months ago for MK Dons. He should be allowed some poor performances as he is still young and we have already seen what he is capable of when playing well. Aged 20 Alli is the future of Tottenham, and although he will be rightly criticised for his performance on Tuesday night - the media and fans should perhaps look to put the blame elsewhere.

I think there were certainly worse players on the night for Tottenham. Son springs to mind instantly. Although he has had a good season to date, he was totally useless in this crucial game against Monaco. The likes of Wanyama and Wimmer also seriously struggled as Tottenham were outplayed allover the pitch.

Fans On Twitter Say Chelsea Player Has ‘Improved Tremendously’ After Performance vs. Boro

Oli Price-Bates November 21, 2016

Chelsea have been in brilliant form lately and after a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough they moved to the top of the league. Some players have been particularly impressive during the clubs recent run, and one player in particular has been receiving praise.

A number of Chelsea players have improved under Antonio Conte and in the 3-4-3 formation, but arguably none have made such a drastic improvement as Victor Moses. The Nigerian midfielder had been frozen out under Jose Mourinho and many wondered as to why he was still at a club of Chelsea’s size. But new systems and managers often throw lifelines to certain players, and Moses is one that has come to fore under the new management. He is playing in the right wing-back role and excelling defensively and offensively to give Chelsea good balance.

Since Chelsea have moved to the 3-4-3 formation and Moses to right wing-back, the team haven’t conceded in 6 league games. Moses has played a big part in that defensive solidarity and it is strange to see from a player that was previously so attacking inclined. A lot of credit has to go to Conte for that, and also the player. We’ve seen several examples of players settling for squad roles and decent wage, but Moses has rose to the challenge and adapted his game to improve himself and the team.

A look at his stats from the game against Middlesbrough helps highlight Moses’ improvement. Moses was influential, attempting 5 crosses, 2 of them finding a Chelsea man. He also attempted 6 long balls, 3 of which were accurate. Defensively Moses made 1 clearance, won 1 aerial duel and completed a dribble. Moses gets involved in the player a lot for a full back, he made 54 passes on Sunday. Although this wasn’t his best game to date in a Chelsea shirt, Moses was once again part of a defensive unit that secured another clean sheet. This has earned him many plaudits. Here’s how the fans reacted to Moses’ performance on Twitter. \

Personally I think it’s great to see stories like the one we’ve seen with Moses. So often new managers look to spend millions and bring in new signings to suit their tactical changes, but credit to Conte, he has first looked internally for solutions and has appeared to find a near-perfect one in 25-year-old Moses. The player looked as if his career was going nowhere but he has worked hard, impressed and now looks like he will move into the prime years of his career starting regularly for Chelsea.

‘Best In The Country’ Huge Praise For Chelsea Star After Middlesbrough Performance

Oli Price-Bates November 20, 2016

Chelsea have been marvellous in recent weeks and on Sunday they moved to the summit of the Premier League with another impressive win and clean sheet. The goal came from Diego Costa, the Spaniard is just one player that is performing much better under Antonio Conte.

Since the move to a 3-4-3 Costa has had more attacking support from the likes of Eden Hazard and that has seen him move to the top of the goalscoring charts. With the defence keeping 6 clean sheets in a row, Costa’s goals have proved crucial in winning games for Chelsea. He’s now netted 10 in the Premier League, that’s two more than his closest rival Sergio Aguero.

Costa was deadly in his debut Premier League season but last year he really struggled, along with most of the Chelsea squad. Conte has crucially managed to get Costa and Hazard back to their best. Doing that has ensured that his team are much more clinical going forward and he defensive re-shuffle has enabled the team to also be extremely efficient defensively.

On top of all his goals, Costa has shown his ability to be a team player and has managed 3 Premier League assists, in comparison Aguero has none. Costa’s overall ability has led to many calling him the best forward in the league. Not only is he a clinical player, but Costa fights hard for his team, using his physical attributes to create space and opportunities for his teammates.

Of course his goal was the most important contribution to the game for Chelsea on the day, but it wasn’t his only one. Here’s some more stats from the big man’s performance. Costa had 3 shots, and made 4 key passes against Middlesbrough. He also completed 41 passes, 1 through ball and 2 dribbles. Defensively Costa put in his usual shift and made 2 interceptions - overall he earned an impressive WhoScored match rating of 8.31.

Here’s how the fans are reacting to Diego Costa’s most recent performance on Twitter.

As an Arsenal fan I have to declare my admiration for Costa. He’s a truly brilliant striker and the perfect player to play as a lone frontman in the Premier League. He has everything and aged 28, in his prime, Chelsea must appreciate they have one of the best players in the Premier League right now. With him and Hazard in form, of course they can win the league.

Despite Aguero’s obvious brilliance, I think if I had to choose one player to have at Arsenal right now it would be Costa. The man is a real winner, hard as nails and everything you want in a front man. He’s got more to his game than Aguero and is capable of performing against many different types of defences.

 

‘He’s Better Than Ozil’ Fans On Twitter Praise Manchester United Midfielder After Arsenal Match

Oli Price-Bates November 20, 2016

Manchester United were perhaps a shade unfortunate not to take the 3 points against Arsenal in yesterday’s early kick off. Juan Mata opened the scoring and his overall performance earned him many plaudits.

Mata was influential in helping United control the game for most of the 90 minutes. His cool finish helped United turn that pressure into a goal just after half time, although United conceded a 90th minute equaliser after the Spaniard was subbed off.

Here’s a closer look at the statistics behind Mata’s performance, these help highlight how influential he was, not just during the scoring of the goal. Mata made 36 passes during the game which isn’t a huge amount, but he was successful with 86.1% of his attempted passes. He also attempted 5 crosses and 2 long balls, this shows he was not just attempting short and easy passes. The low amount of passes he made was probably because he was played on the right wing - a position where you are not involved as much in possession.

His defensive game has certainly improved under Mourinho and in big games like this it is important that you defend from the front - this is exactly what Mata did, making 2 interceptions and 3 tackles. Going forward he completed 3 dribbles and attempted 3 shots with 2 of them on target and 1 crucially a goal.

Here’s a sample of how Twitter has reacted to Mata’s performance on Saturday afternoon.

So is he better than Ozil? As an Arsenal fan I think it would be a bit biased for me to say one way or the other. What I can say is that aside from his goals, Ozil has not been at his best this season whereas Mata has excelled under Mourinho where many thought he may not play at all. The Spaniard has improved the defensive side of his game and he is capable of notching up goals and assists. This is promising for him, but can he really be considered better than Ozil?

Ultimately although Mata had a decent game yesterday, he needs to improve his goal and assist tally to be considered better than Ozil - as that is a good measurement of an attacking midfielder’s quality. The Spaniard only has 4 goals and 1 assist in 16 games this season and people are saying he has had a great season. In comparison people are suggesting Ozil has been poor this season but he has made 3 assists and scored 7 goals in 15 games for Arsenal. What does that tell you about the two players?

‘Worst Game As A Professsional Footballer’ Arsenal Fans Rip Into Midfielder After Terrible Performance vs Manchester United

Fresh Football November 19, 2016

Arsenal somehow managed to rescue a point at Old Trafford, Olivier Giroud heading in with just a couple of minutes of normal time to go. The Gunners were far from their best at Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho rekindled their old rivalry, but the spoils were shared in a game of few chances in Manchester.

Mourinho was left fuming as United’s penalty claims were correctly waved away in the first half by Andre Marriner, but the United manager saw his team take the lead midway through the second half, Juan Mata coming up with the goods once again.

United looked to sit back with just under ten minutes to go, and this horribly backfired as Arsene Wenger’s substitutes combined to fire Arsenal level. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain beat his man down the right and picked out Giroud in the box, who nodded the ball home at the back post.

However, one player to disappear in a big game yet again with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil. He has shown his quality throughout the season, but was little more than a passenger here for Arsene Wenger’s side.

The German creator didn’t have a single shot in the ninety minutes, and he didn’t create a single chance either. In addition to this, Ozil produced just two crosses and completed just three take-ons.

Fans were quick to criticise the German on social media, who has put in a string of poor performances in the big games. Here is how they reacted.

On his day, Ozil can be one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League. He showed his class against Ludogorets and some of the weaker oposition in the Premier League. However, Arsenal were missing that creative spark today at Old Trafford, and Ozil needs to step up in the future in the big games.

Liverpool Midfielder Dubbed ‘Best In The Premier League’ On Twitter After Brazil Performance

Oli Price-Bates November 11, 2016

Philippe Coutinho is in a great run of form for Liverpool at the moment, and on Thursday night he continued that run of form into the international stage with a stunning performance vs. Argentina.

The Brazilian has previously failed to excel on the international stage, but following his good domestic form, he was rewarded with with a start for Brazil in a crucial qualifying game for the World Cup.

They faced rivals Argentina, whom are struggling in the group and Brazil made sure that continued with a ruthless performance, winning 3-0 on the night and the goals started thanks for Coutinho’s quality quality opener. His individual run was capped off with a beautiful curling effort, finding the top corner.

He has always been a player that is neat and tidy in possession, good to watch and great at beating his man, but if Coutinho was to be critcised for anything it would be his inability to consistently score and assist. This has changed this season and he’s managed 5 goals and 5 assists in the league and he’s now producing on the international stage too. There can be no arguments that if this form is to continue, Coutinho must be considered amongst the best. Here’s what the fans are saying about his performance.

Coutinho starred alongside Neymar and Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus in a quality attacking force for Brazil. They’ve had some dark days in the recent past, the humiliating home defeat to Germany always springs to mind, but in these three and many others, Brazil have some top class attacking talent capable of causing problems for any team. They look in great shape to qualify for the World Cup and should this kind of form continue, they can be considered serious contenders.

‘Best Player In The Premier League’ Twitter Praises Chelsea Midfielder After Everton Performance

Oli Price-Bates November 7, 2016

Chelsea have found a new lease of life in a 3-4-3 formation under Antonio Conte - with the key being that their star players are finding their form.

One who is particularly thriving is Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard. A player we know can do so much, Hazard struggled last season and looked a defeated player. One of Conte’s biggest tasks when he joined the club was to get the most out of the world class Hazard, and the new formation he has implemented does just that. Hazard still has to play with discipline, but he has more of an attacking license in this formation allowing him to make the devastating difference, just as he did against Everton on Saturday evening.

The Belgian made all the difference with his two goals in the 5-0 rout against Everton, though his goals were not his only impressive contributions. His passing accuracy was a phenomenal 95%, making 56 passes in total. He attempted 5 crosses, 3 of them were accurate. He also attempted 2 long balls and both were accurate. He had 3 shots, all of which were on target and 2 resulted in goals. He also completed 2 dribbles. It was perhaps the Belgian’s best performance of the season and it really highlighted that he is back and certainly amongst the best in the Premier League when on form.

Here’s some of the reaction on Twitter.

If Hazard can continue this kind of form then Chelsea have a serious chance of winning the league. They will face stiff competition from the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, but with players like Hazard in the team they must set their targets very high.

Hazard is a top player - but the only way he can truly be considered the best in the league is if he can consistently prove himself. The fact that last season he really struggled means that no matter how he performs this season, there will always be doubts over whether or not he is actually the very best. He’s only 25 though, and the next 5 years or so will be the prime years of his career. He has said he wants to become one of the top 5 players in the world, and I do not think that is unrealistic. So long as he keeps his ambitions high, but also plays for the team, I think he can be a great asset to the side.

Manchester United Star Breaks 2 Records With Fantastic Performance vs. Swansea

Oli Price-Bates November 6, 2016

Manchester United had been in a terrible run of form but on Sunday they managed an impressive 3-1 win over a struggling Swansea side, and there was one particular player who stood out.

The last Premier League fixture for United was at home to Burnley where they drew 0-0. The result was so poor because of their poor finishing and one of the biggest culprits of this was summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He had been on a bit of a goal drought in recent weeks but his brace against Swansea has helped change that.

As usual, Zlatan wasn’t overly involved in the game, but when he was he was deadly. He took just two shots and both hit the back of the net. He made 1 key pass and 1 dribble. He was involved perhaps more in the build up than usual though, attempting 6 through balls and being accurate with 4 of them. This helped United build sustained pressure in the Swansea half and ultimately lead to the 3 United goals.

But what will make the headlines is that Zlatan scored both the 25,000th Premier League goal and his personal 400th goal of his career. 400 league goals is, as Zlatan said himself, more than some players play games in their entire careers - it’s a pretty remarkable achievement considering he has always played at the highest level. Scoring the 25,000th Premier League goal also means that he will always be remembered in the history of English football despite his (so far at least) short time in the country.

Hopefully for United fans the records he has broken today and the two goals he has scored means that he will return to his best form.

Here’s how fans have reacted to the Swede’s performance on Twitter.

United will need Zlatan to be playing at this level consistently for them to have any chance of getting into the top 4 this season, let alone winning the league. He isn’t going to run around loads, but he is a clinical finisher, with a fantastic physical presence. The only negative of his performance against Swansea was that he picked up a yellow card and that is his 5th of the season so far, meaning he will have to serve a 1 match suspension. That match will be after the international break at home to Arsenal - a game he would not want to have missed.

‘Best Midfielder In England’ Twitter Reacts To Liverpool Players Masterclass vs. Watford

Oli Price-Bates November 6, 2016

Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League with an emphatic 6-1 win over Watford on Sunday afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp’s men kept up their stunning form of late and they had Philippe Coutinho to thank for much of their performance. The Brazilian has been thriving on the left hand side of a dynamic and energetic front three for Klopp - and it is leading to some fantastic results for the Merseyside club.

Here’s some stats from Coutinho’s near-flawless performance. He had 83 touches and made 5 key passes, his passing was fairly reliable with a 82.4% success rate. He attempted 6 crosses and was accurate with 3 and he made 54 passes in total. Dribbling is also an area of Coutinho’s game that is very strong, he completed 3 of these in the game. His most telling contributions of the game were of course his goal and assist. As we’ve seen with lots of individuals performances under Klopp - it is not about perfection with pass completion etc. but a lot about intensity and teamwork and these are areas of Coutinho’s game that have improved a lot under Klopp.

Aged just 24, Coutinho is making great progress at Liverpool and looks better than ever so far this season.

This performance is not a one off for the player, he has been in great form this season and is thriving under the guidance of Klopp. This season he has racked up 5 goals and 5 assists in 11 Premier League appearances this season - it’s a great start to the campaign and if he can keep it up he may be considered the best midfielder in the Premier League, some believe he is already just that…

Here’s some of the best reaction to Coutinho’s performance on Twitter.

Coutinho is Liverpool’s playmaker and most influential attacking player. Whether he is the actual best midfielder in the league or not remains up for debate - there’s a lot of top quality midfielders. What matters is about team performance for Klopp, not individuals. So long as Coutinho can continue to contribute for the team then Liverpool have every chance of winning the title this season. If he can deliver consistent performances like that and make the difference in the title race then nobody will need to speculate - he can be crowned the best in the league.